FARGO – Equality North Dakota (END), the statewide advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender North Dakotans, announced today its intention to fight the constitutional amendment initiative announced May 26 by the North Dakota Family Alliance.  This initiative would enshrine discrimination against same-sex couples in the North Dakota state constitution.  The proposed amendment would add language to the state constitution that defines marriage as between a man and a woman and would also prohibit civil unions or other similar relationships.

“Constitutions are for protecting civil rights, not denying them.  It’s wrong to use the state or federal constitution to try to relegate any group of citizens to second-class status,” said Robert Uebel, co-chair of Equality North Dakota.  “No matter how our opposition tries to package this initiative, it’s first and foremost about discrimination.  The institution of marriage will not be protected or enhanced by attempts to permanently deny same-sex couples equal marriage rights.  Equality North Dakota will fight the initiative, and we are confident that fair-minded North Dakotans will see it for the mean-spirited attack on their fellow citizens that it is,” said Uebel.

Gina Powers, an END supporter who recently married her same-sex partner of six years in San Francisco, commented, “This initiative scares me.  If we sanction discrimination in the state constitution, what else will my family have to deal with?  We are not asking for exceptions to rules of law.  We are asking that we not be the exception.”

Concluded Sherri Paxon, END co-chair, who married her life partner Vickie in Canada last summer, “Faith-based organizations that oppose equal marriage rights for same-sex couples should realize that marriage licenses are granted by the state and that no church can be compelled to perform a marriage of which it doesn’t approve.  Many same-sex couples in North Dakota have been together for years in loving, committed relationships, many with children, and are contributing members of their communities.  These families deserve to be treated equally under North Dakota law.  That’s the bottom line.”